Can opener



v Feb. 26, 1924." 1,485,094

w. M. THOMPSON v cm OPENER Original Filed May 14. 1920 h z'ZZzis Mmom 50m.

Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

'TATES WILLIS M. THOMPSON,

or cn cAGo, ILLINOIS.

can OPENER.'

Application filed May 14, 1920, Serial No. 381,260. Renewed January 9, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS M. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an improved combination tool, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly described and distinctly claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved household implement in a compact foldable and adjustable form, which can be quickly converted and used as a can-opener, a cork puller, a bottle-cap hook, and a tack-puller, as required.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the implement in folded position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elvation of the implement, opened and ready for use as a can-opener;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the under side of the device in an open position;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the implement in an open position; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the can-opener rod detached.

The numeral 1 designates one of the hinged and foldable sections of the body of said flanges extend at about a right angle.

to said section, in the same direction and parallel with each other.

Perforated ears 3 are formed on said flanges 23, at the end of the said section which is hinged to the other section 5 of the implement; said perforatede'ars being enlargements of said flanges and pivoted to the adjacent overlapped side flanges?) of said last-mentioned section 5 by means of suitable rivets 4 or other common form of pivotal means, so that the two body sections 1- and 5 are pivotally connected at adj acent ends and I if thereby. adapted to be folded and unfolded with relation to each other j Opposite perforated ears 7 project from the web or connecting part which extends between the said side flanges 6 of said section 5, and a common cork-extractor 12 is pivotally connected at a point near one of its ends to the said perforated ears 7, so that said cork-extractor may have its cork engaging end thrown outwardly when the body i of said extractor is turned upon its-pivotal connections to occupy a position about at right angles to said body section 5, whena cork is to be pulled.

When the said cork-extractor 12 is not in use it liesparallel with said body section 5, out of the way in the space between the opposite side flanges 6 of said body-section. (See Fig. 5.)

In the present instance, the said cork-extractor 12 is in the form of a flat plate of metal having atrits free end a sharpened and hooked head, which easily penetrates the cork and fastens itself thereto, in extracting corks; but it is obvious that a common corkscrew may supplant the said hookhead plate.

An opening 9 is formed in the web connecting said side flanges 6 of the body section 5, adjacent one end of said section; and another opening 10. is formed in said web at the opposite end of said section, to make the device lighter, although said opening 9 permits the neck of thecapped bottles to partially enter it, in removing bottle-caps by means of the cap-hook 11, which is formed integral with the adjacent end of the said section 5, and overhangs the outer end of the said bottle opening 9.

A tack-puller 14 having the usual tack slot 15 in its outer end has its inner end formed integral with or secured to the pivoted end of the said body section 1.

Transverse straps l6 and 17 are formed upon the outer face of the said body section 1 adjacent each end thereof, preferably by punching the metal, for holding the can-opener rod 18 at points adjacent both ends of the latter, and securing the same to the outer surface of the said section 1.

The said can-opener rod 18 is preferably formed of a piece of steel wire of suitable size that is pointed or sharpened at one end, to easily perforate the end of the can that is to be opened' A locking depression 19 is formed in said rod 18 adjacent one of its ends, and a longer depression 20 is formed in said rod at a point adjacent the base of the said sharpened portion of the rod.

A circular cutter, or cutting disk 21, is provided with an integral hub 22, and said disk and its hub are loosely mounted to revolve upon said rod, and to slide longitudinally thereon (in adapting said cutter to cans of different diameters) in the said longitudinal recess 2 of the said body section 1. 1 p

The body of said can-opener rod 18 is bent outwardly at points adjacent the said depressions 19 and 20, as shown in Fig. 6, to give sufiicient play for the movement of said cutter 21.

In assembling the said can-opener parts, the said cutter 21 is first placed on the rod 18; then the rod is bent as previously described; then the pointed end of said rod is inserted beneath the strap 17 of the body section 1 and passed thereunder until the nasaoea longer depression 20 is reached; and then the opposite end of said rod is passed beneath the other strap 16 and passed thereunder until said strap is located in the said short depression 19; after which, and finally, the metal of the two straps is pressed down upon and into the two said depressions to lock the said can-opener rod in place, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5.

The operation and use of my invention will be entirely clear without further description.

I claim An improved can opener, composed of two bodysections pivotally connected anu adapted to be folded to shorten the length of the tool as desired; one of said bodysections being provided with a longitudinal depression; a pointed can-opener rod fixed on the body-section which has said longitudinal depression in it, and a cutter mounted to slide and rotate on said can-opener rod in said depression, substantially as set forth. a

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIS M. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

IDA PHILLIPS, JOHN C. Eleven. 

